Following a decision by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice­President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, the European Union will open a Delegation (embassy) in Kuwait in 2019.

Mogherini said in a press statement Wednesday that: "Kuwait is an important partner for the European Union: for peace, security and prosperity in the country and the wider region."

"Kuwait is the first country in the Gulf region with which the EEAS concluded a Cooperation Arrangement in 2016, and opening a new Delegation in Kuwait City will allow us to further step up our political, economic and sectoral engagement. Establishing a permanent presence in the country illustrates that we consider our partnership with the Kuwaiti people a priority," she said.

"This decision reflects the positive development of EU­Kuwait relations as well as the potential that exists for enhanced cooperation, in particular in support of Kuwait's "Vision 2035" as well as implementation of the EU­Kuwait Cooperation Arrangement," noted the EU foreign policy chief. As the third EU Delegation to be established in the Gulf, following those in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2004) and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2013), the new Delegation in Kuwait also signifies an important step to further strengthen the EU's engagement in the region, she noted.

This will take the total number of EU Delegations around the world to 142. The decision by the EU High Representative, the agreement of the European Commission and the Council of the European Union and will be implemented in the course of 2019, she added.